Once in a Blue Moon

Being the astronomy geek that I am, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out that we'll be seeing a "blue moon" on New Year's Eve this year. The last blue moon in 2007 was the week Mike Sheehy ran the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon and raised funds on my behalf with LLS' Team in Training while I was battling cancer. Even with chemo-brain at that time, I remember it well. (You can hear his TNT "Mission Moment" here on YouTube: Ultra Runner's Mission to Find a Cure.) So, I am taking it as some sort of sign that on the Eve of the Cures Rock! Tour we'll be seeing another one. Ok, sure, I'm attaching meaning to a celestial event, but hey, why not inject a little magical thinking for our Tour, right?

There is something that is *not* a "once in a blue moon" event: the passion of Cures Rock! and the Cures Rock! Tour Relay Support Team. One mile at a time, we will fight cancer until we find a cure. Please consider supporting us through a donation or by coming out to cheer us on at the kick-off or race day. You can even run a mile or two with us at the start of the Tour each day. http://www.curesrocktour.com/

Kick-off - Jan 1
San Diego, CA at 7:30 a.m. at Cancer Survivor's Park / Spanish Landing
(finishing the day at Cannon Park in Carlsbad, CA)

Race Day - P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Half or Full Marathon
(Join us! Use code: CRT2010 for $10 off your race entry fee!)

Alas, since I'll be ushering in the New Year slumbering away in prep of the 17-day, 500 mile ultra-run extravaganza that begins on the early morning on Jan 1st --- I will have to miss waving at the moon's 2nd magic show of the month and leave the howling up to all of you.

Pictured (L to R): Joe Pavlicko, Julie Westcott, Mike Sheehy, Mike's son & Judy Spowart at the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon - San Diego (June 3, 2007)

Cures Rock! Tour to Complete A Record 17-Day Run from San Diego to Phoenix

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.

One man and relay supporters will run over 500 miles of ultramarathons to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and raise awareness about cancer.

San Diego, Calif.; On January 1st, 2010, veteran marathoner Mike Sheehy and his Relay Support Team will run from San Diego to Phoenix, covering an ultra-marathon distance of 31 miles each day for 17 consecutive days to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The Cures Rock! Tour will push out from Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego to do an extraordinary feat, all in the name of curing blood cancers. Sheehy and the Relay Run Team supporters will finish the 500-mile trek by running in the 2010 P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon and Dean Karnazes Rock ‘n’ Roll Ultra on January 17th.

”The Cures Rock! Tour is a mission – and not just a one time mission – to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society on educating others about new treatments and patient care for cancer survivorship,” says Greg Dowell, tour spokesperson. “We’re hoping that by running through 44 cities and two states in 17 days, we’ll raise a few supporters.”

Nearly 140,000 cases of blood cancer are diagnosed in the United States annually, accounting for 9.5% of all cancer deaths. The Tour is aiming to raise $100,000 to support cancer research and health management resources for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) while raising awareness of blood disorders.

“I began this journey in 2006 when my co-worker Julie Westcott was diagnosed with Leukemia. I set out to raise a few bucks for the LLS with ‘Team in Training’ for Julie. She got well, then relapsed, and my passion to help find a cure is now 100 percent stronger,” says Mike Sheehy, the runner that will complete the journey. “As grueling as 17 ultra-marathons will be, it’s not close to the challenge cancer patients, like Julie, face in chemotherapy.”

Team members will work with LLS to visit patient families and cancer care hospitals along the route to Phoenix to provide support for those impacted by blood cancer, and the staff of doctors and nurses fighting the disease. Team members are either survivors of cancer themselves or personally connected to the cause through family members and friends.

The Tour will cover 31-mile (50K) segments from San Diego through Carlsbad, Temecula, Beaumont, Palm Springs, Yucca Valley and through Twenty Nine Palms. Crossing the desert along California Route 62, the Cures Rock! Tour will enter the Grand Canyon State at Parker, Arizona, then head east through Salome, Buckeye, Avondale and into the Valley of the Sun for the final three days in Phoenix, Arizona.

The Cures Rock! Tour will champion the Cures Rock! mission, an organization founded by Julie Westcott to break down global silos and inspire those impacted by cancer around the world. In response to why the team is beginning the Tour on New Year's Day, Westcott says, "By 2010, cancer will be the #1 global cause of death. The Cures Rock! Ultra Run Tour is starting on the #1 day of 2010, going toe-to-toe fighting cancer, one mile at a time."

Pictured:
Pic #1: Cures Rock! Tour - Relay Support Team (from L to R): Colin Eckleman, Jennifer Reardon, Suzanne Ellard, Mike Sheehy, Julie Westcott, Angie VanderBurgh, Greg Dowell and Bill Martin
Pic #2: Mike Sheehy (Ultramarathoner of Cures Rock! Tour) with Julie Westcott (Founder, Cures Rock!)

About Cures Rock!
Cures Rock! is a growing, grassroots organization that advocates and fund raises for cancer charities to fight to find a cure for cancer. The group works to break down global silos and stigmas around cancer, creates awareness about the disease in young adults, and inspires those impacted by the cancer through extreme/endurance sports, music and online social media.

The Cures Rock! Tour is an awareness and fundraising event, encouraging donations to LLS through their web site: http://www.CuresRockTour.com. Current sponsors include ProFlowers, Smart and Final, Running Center, DJO and Holiday Inn Resort: Palm Springs.
Twitter: www.Twitter.com/CuresRock
Facebook: www.Facebook.com/CuresRock
Blog: www.CuresRock.org

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET.

What does a half million galaxies look like?

What does a half million galaxies look like?

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Happy Solstice!

Yes, it's true. Winter brings shorter days for our running and cycling addictions...err...I mean "habits." I know we often cringe at the dark, cold mornings when we get up for training runs or rides. --- However, I have to admit that these winter days also leave me happily expectant for the Joy this season brings to the planet.

Happy Solstice! May your day be supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

In Memory: One Voice Makes a Difference

Today, I'm honoring the memory of my graddad, a famous World War II combat cameraman. He died from cancer 4 years ago today at 96 years old, but his spirit lives on. He always believed that everyone had a story to tell. Everyone's story, even if "unknown" or "un-famous" or "behind the lens" was equally important.

My crusade may be a different in subject matter, but I know that if my grandfather had survived his cancer, he would probably be at my side with my advocacy in the fight against cancer. He would have appreciated "young lads" like Lance Armstrong and Doug Ulman for their "obligation to the cure" and advocacy work. (And...Lance & Doug -- he probably would have thought he could teach ya'll a thing or two, at over twice your ages) :)

His crusade? To tell the stories and share his work filming the aftermath of the atomic bomb detonations in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. To ensure that combat cameramen world-wide were recognized for their work (where possible) and their heroic actions were documented. He was co-founder of the International Combat Camerman Association.

I remember him telling me, "Everyone has a story -- what's yours going to be?"

How was I going to make my life count? Being Irish, we thrive on our stories. But, even more, he thrived on making a difference in the world and in speaking out for those that didn't have as large of a voice. I learned many lessons from him, but one of the largest is that one voice CAN make a difference.

Share your story and help change the stigma of cancer. Contact your local government and fight for change. I realize my fight may just be a drop in the ocean, and that our Cures Rock! Tour is one of so many events, but perhaps it'll start a ripple among many that'll help find the cure for cancer. While I know my granddad would have never wanted to see his grandkids fight cancer (and he didn't have to as I wasn't diagnosed until 2006), I will continue to fight for a world where his great-grandkids...my nieces & nephew...say, "What's Cancer?

(For more information on joining forces in the fight against cancer, go to: http://www.livestrongaction.org/)

Pic:
Daniel McGovern surveys ground zero in Nagasaki, Japan. (Posted on www.CombatCamera.org)

Nominate a Cures Rock! Star

Some people are stars -- folks we love that rock in their attitude and efforts in the fight against cancer, and we want to recognize it!

Mike and a relay support team (including me) will run over 500 miles to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and raise awareness about cancer.

Team members will visit hospitals and families along the route from San Diego to Phoenix to provide support for families impacted by cancer and thank the doctors and nurses fighting the disease. The Cures Rock! Team members are either survivors of cancer themselves or personally connected to the cause through family members and friends. We're all too familiar with how it feels to be standing in your shoes.

We'd love nothing more than to visit patients affected by blood cancer. If you'd love for our Cures Rock! Tour team to visit a patient or medical professional "Cures Rock! Star" in your life that's located along our route, please contact me as soon as possible! (I promise we'll bring some goodies, and more importantly, some smiles, gratitude and humor!)

The Cures Rock! Tour will cover 31-mile segments from San Diego through Carlsbad, Temecula, Beaumont, Palm Springs, Yucca Valley and through Twenty Nine Palms. Crossing the desert along California Route 62, Cures Rock! will enter the Grand Canyon State at Parker, Arizona, then head east through Salome, Buckeye, Avondale and into the Valley of the Sun for the final three days. On the final day, we'll be running the P.F. Chang's Rock 'n' Roll Arizona Marathon! (If you donate to LLS on our Tour site, email us & we'll send you a $10 off coupon to register, courtesy of Competitor Group!)

After the running each morning, we'll be visiting patient homes, outpatient facilities and hospitals --- thanking the "Cures Rock! Stars" in our lives!

To nominate a Cures Rock! Star in your life:

Send an email to: julie<>curesrock<>org and include your name and email address. (Yes, you can self-nominate!) In addition, let us know what city the patient or medical team member is located in and include a few details about how they ROCK in their fight against cancer. (Note: Please do not include any personal medical details about the patient, as we need their consent first.)

What's the Cures Rock! Tour (CRT)?

On January 1st, our team will head out on this cancer awareness adventure. Veteran marathoner Mike Sheehy and the CRT Relay Team will run from San Diego to Phoenix, covering an ultra-marathon distance of 31 miles each day - 50K a day - for 17 consecutive days to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The Cures Rock! Tour will push out from Cancer Survivors Park in downtown San Diego on an outrageous journey, all in the name of curing blood cancers. Sheehy and the Tour Relay Team will finish the 500-mile trek by running in the 2010 PF Chang Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon on January 17th.

PLEASE forward this blog post, tweet, podcast, Facebook, etc. Help us get the word out about nominating the Cures Rock! Stars in your life!

CURES ROCK!

Cures Rock! is a growing, grassroots organization that advocates and fund raises for cancer charities to fight to find a cure for cancer. The group works to break down global silos and stigmas around cancer, creates awareness about the disease in young adults, and inspires those impacted by the cancer through endurance sports, music and online social media.

The Cures Rock! Tour is an awareness and fundraising event, encouraging donations to LLS through their web site: http://www.CuresRockTour.com. Current sponsors include ProFlowers, and Smart and Final.

Cancer and the Holidays

For survivors, the holidays can be a difficult time. If you are in treatment you may worry about seeing family members for the first time since diagnosis. You may also wonder how to deal with people asking questions about your cancer. If you have a loved one just diagnosed it can be difficult to know how to address their cancer or offer support. You may have just lost a loved one to the disease and are unsure if the holidays will be “the same” as they were in years past.

We at LIVESTRONG want you to know that we can help. LIVESTRONG SurvivorCare offers free, professional, one-on-one support. You can call before the holidays to get guidance on dealing with cancer at the holidays or at any time to receive support. During the holidays we will open all but the following days: December 24, 25, 31 and January 1. We hope to hear from you.

Best to you and your family this holiday season!

LIVESTRONG SurvivorCareEmail through our website: http://www.livestrong.org/survivorcareCall us on the phone: 1-866-673-7205

(Blog posted on Livestrongblog.org by Brooke McMillian)

STILLERSTRONG

It's great to see Ben Stiller raising funds for charity while generating some great humor in jest with Lance Armstrong. See the latest "StillerSTRONG" video: STILLERSTRONG :)

In the spirit of humor (and on the Eve of an 18-miler long run with my Team in Training marathon team tomorrow at 6 a.m.) --- I'll leave you with one of my favorite movie quotes of all time from the movie, "Dodgeball":

Lance Armstrong: Hey, aren't you Peter La Fleur?

Peter La Fleur: Lance Armstrong!

Lance Armstrong: Ya, that's me. But I'm a big fan of yours.

Peter La Fleur: Really?

Lance Armstrong: Ya, I've been watching the dodgeball tournament on the Ocho. ESPN 8. I just can't get enough of it. Good luck in the tournament. I'm really pulling for you against those jerks from Globo Gym. I think you better hurry up or you're gonna be late.

Peter La Fleur: Uh, actually I decided to quit... Lance.

Lance Armstrong: Quit? You know, once I was thinking of quitting when I was diagnosed with brain, lung and testicular cancer all at the same time. But with the love and support of my friends and family, I got back on the bike and won the Tour de France five times in a row. But I'm sure you have a good reason to quit. So what are you dying of that's keeping you from the finals?

Peter La Fleur: Right now it feels a little bit like... shame.

Lance Armstrong: Well, I guess if a person never quit when the going got tough, they wouldn't anything to regret for the rest of their life. Well good luck to you Peter. I'm sure this decision won't haunt you forever.



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